The Rocky Mountain Collection vs. The Essential John Denver
I'm looking to add one of his greatest hits albums to my CD collection and was wondering which track list shows the better breadth of his gifts as a songwriter and a performer, in your guys' opinions.
The Rocky Mountain Collection
Disc 1
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Leaving on a Jet Plane
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Rhymes and Reasons
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Follow Me
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Aspenglow
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Sunshine on My Shoulders
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My Sweet Lady
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Take Me Home, Country Roads
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Poems, Prayers and Promises
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The Eagle and the Hawk
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Starwood in Aspen
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Friends with You
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Goodbye Again
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Rocky Mountain High
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I'd Rather Be a Cowboy (Lady's Chains)
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Farewell Andromeda (Welcome to My Morning)
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Back Home Again
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Annie's Song
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Thank God I'm a Country Boy
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Sweet Surrender
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This Old Guitar
Disc 2
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Fly Away
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Looking for Space
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Windsong
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Calypso
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I'm Sorry
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Like A Sad Song
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Come And Let Me Look In Your Eyes
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How Can I Leave You Again
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Thirsty Boots
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It Amazes Me
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I Want to Live
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Autograph
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Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Stone)
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Seasons of the Heart
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Shanghai Breezes
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Perhaps Love - John Denver, Plácido Domingo
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Wild Montana Skies - John Denver Duet with Emmylou Harris
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Love Again
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Flying for Me
Tracks unique to this album: Follow Me, Aspenglow, The Eagle and the Hawk, Starwood in Aspen, This Old Guitar, Windsong, Come And Let Me Look In Your Eyes, Thirsty Boots, Flying for Me
The Essential John Denver
Disc 1
-
Leaving on a Jet Plane
-
Rhymes and Reasons
-
Take Me Home, Country Roads
-
Poems, Prayers and Promises
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I Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado
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Friends with You
-
Rocky Mountain High
-
Goodbye Again
-
I'd Rather Be a Cowboy (Lady's Chains)
-
Farewell Andromeda (Welcome to My Morning)
-
Sunshine on My Shoulders
-
Back Home Again
-
Matthew
-
Thank God I'm a Country Boy
-
Annie's Song
-
Sweet Surrender
-
Looking for Space
-
I'm Sorry
Disc 2
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Calypso
-
Fly Away
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Baby, You Look Good to Me Tonight
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Like A Sad Song
-
How Can I Leave You Again
-
It Amazes Me
-
I Want to Live
-
My Sweet Lady
-
Autograph
-
Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Stone)
-
The Cowboy and the Lady
-
Seasons of the Heart
-
Shanghai Breezes
-
Perhaps Love
-
Wild Montana Skies - John Denver Duet with Emmylou Harris
-
Love Again
-
Dreamland Express
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Is It Love?
Tracks Unique to this album: I Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado, Matthew, Baby You Look Good to Me Tonight, The Cowboy and the Lady, Dreamland Express, Is It Love?
For me, the best double disc displaying his talent is from the world wildlife foundation special on PBS from around 1996. Bonus points if you actually watch his performance rather than just listen to the audio.
I was lucky enough to watch it as it aired. It had a big impact on me. No joke: I often think about that evening watching John Denver perform on PBS over a quarter century later.
Rocky Mountain Collection has a little more variety on it, it looks like, and seems to focus more on the early half of his career. Lots of favorites on there for me, so I suppose that would be my vote!
Personally I would get the first collection, even though I don't own it. I own The Essential John Denver. I don't like that Placido Domingo duet though.
I like the Rocky Mountain collection better. That album covers his biggest hits from the early years. I prefer those songs. Although, I must add that the essential list covers more of the his entire career. If you’re looking for a broader view of the man’s music, go with the essential.
I have the Essential John Denver and it is very good. However, by the look at it, I would like to have the Rocky Mountain Collection which looks good too.